Gutter brush

ABSTRACT

A gutter brush for a street sweeper has a plurality of bristlecarrying segments each of which is secured in a segment holder. The segment holders are secured to a carrier plate. The outer leading edge of each holder is curled back onto itself in two places to define interiorly projecting lips or curls which are received in pockets of an associated bristle segment. A pilot lug of the segment between the pockets is received in a medial notch of the holder between the curls for indexing the two parts during installation. The segment and holder are drive coupled together, usually along their leading radial edges. A radially movable latch of the holder spring locks in a closed position behind the segment and jams the segment into tight engagement with the curls and roof of the holder. The holder and the segment cooperate so that the holder supports the segment and provides substantially all the strength necessary to resist sweeping loads. Movement of the latch radially inward frees the segment for its removal and replacement. The center of gravity of the segment and bristles is such that during installation and upon receipt in the holder&#39;&#39;s curls of the pockets of the segment the segment swings into place and is locked in place merely by moving the latch to its closed position. A bumper may be provided on the segment to protect the holder and carrier plate.

United States Patent 1191 Rosseau 1451 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 GUTTER BRUSH [75] Inventor: Richard B. Rosseau, Claremont,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose. Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 465,389

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Scr. No. 321.048, Jan. 4. 1973.

Primary E.\'aminerPeter Feldman Attorney, Agent, or Firn1R. S. Kelly; C. E. Tripp [57] ABSTRACT A gutter brush for a street sweeper has a plurality of bristle-carrying segments each of which is secured in a segment holder. The segment holders are secured to a carrier plate. The outer leading edge of each holder is curled back onto itself in two places to define interiorly projecting lips or curls which are received in pockets of an associated bristle segment. A pilot lug of the segment between the pockets is received in a medial notch of the holder between the curls for indexing the two parts during installation. The segment and holder are drive coupled together, usually along their leading radial edges. A radially movable latch of the holder spring locks in a closed. position behind the segment and jams the segment into tight engagement with the curls and roof of the holder. The holder and the segment cooperate so that the holder supports the segment and provides substantially all the strength necessary to resist sweeping loads. Movement of the latch radially inward frees the segment for its removal and replacement. The center of gravity of the segment and bristles is such that during installation and upon receipt in the holders curls of the pockets of the segment the segment swings into place and is locked in place merely by moving the latch to its closed position. A bumper may be provided on the segment to protect the holder and carrier plate.

29 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 24 50\ f4 l'////l //X////l// illlll I 11 44 54 E 419 1 42 47 7 f 36 6 49 2a 55 GUTTER BRUSH BACKGROUND OI THE INVENTION The present invention relates to street cleaning brushes in general and, more in particular, to an improved means for mounting a gutter broom segment and an improved gutter broom segment.

Gutter brooms are used on street sweepers to sweep gutters, as the name implies. Gutter broom bristles are typically made of relatively long, hairpin-shaped steel strands. The bight of the hairpin of each strand is used in securing the strand to a carrier. The carrier can be formed in segments for ease of installing new bristles 'd'uring bristle renewal. The carrier is fastened to a car rier plate and the broom is driven through the plate.

Gutter brooms are subject to severe wear because to do an effective job they must forcefully scour the sur faces they are cleaning. It is not uncommon for steel bristles to be worn down to ineffective nubs within a very short period of time. As a consequence of the short bristle life of gutter brooms it is necessary to replace the bristles often.

Because of the requirement that the gutter broom bristles be replaced at frequent intervals, it is necessary that the renewal of gutter brooms be relatively inexpensive. As a consequence, it has been the practice in the past to employ the likes of a disc-like plywood carrier, which may be segmented, through which gutter broom bristle bunches pass. The carrier is carried by a permanent carrier plate. In aggregate the three form the broom. When the bristles wear out. the entire assembly, save for the carrier plate but including the carrier, is thrown away. In use, however, wood is not a very satisfactory carrier because it splits readily under sweeping loads. Moreover, wood carriers are difficult to install.

The problem of bristle removal is apparent when consideration is given to the conditions of gutter broom use. For example, corrosion, mud, sharp wires, and encrusted dirt make access to and removal of such timehonored fasteners as boltsextremely arduous and unpleasant.

Another problem with using fasteners such as bolts is that the bolts usually occupy space at the expense of bristles, thereby reducing the brooms sweeping area. In addition, the heavy and awkward segment must be held in position to start the bolts.

Various techniques have been devised to improve the ease of gutter brooms renewal while attempting to maintain an economical broom.

One such attempt employed a carrier plate with depending inverted T-shaped mounts for supporting individual broom segments. The segments themselves are prevented from moving radially relative to the carrier plate by bolts. One of the problems with this device is that it still relies to some extent on the undesirable bolt mounting of the broom segments. In addition, of course, the bolts occupy space which otherwise the bristles could occupy.

Other approaches have attempted to reduce the number of fasteners required by employing wedges as weight-carrying means between a carrier plate and the broom segments. But this approach has not proven entirely satisfactory because, for example, bolts are still used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved gutter broom construction characterized in a segment and a segment holder which are economical to produce and install, and which make brush replacement extremely easy without sacrificing brush bristles for fasteners.

In general, the present invention contemplates a plurality of brush segment holders carried permanently by a carrier plate which in turn is driven in rotation by a street sweeper. Each holder has means to support and carry a segment ofa brush and means to releasably lock the segment in the holder. The segments are disposable.

The permanent holder grips and supports a disposable segment along a periphery for the transfer of brooming loads to the holder. Consequently segments can be made lightweight and and inexpensive. The support means preferably include a leading, radially outwardly disposed edge of the holder which is in the form of a lip curled back inwardly onto itself for engaging and supporting a cooperating, externally disposed and radially directed flange of the: brush segment. Preferably the flange of the segment. forms the upper wall of a pocket and the pocket receives the lip. A locking latch maintains the segment jammed in place and supports the weight of the rear end of the segment.

The lip and pocket support makes segment installa tion easy. With bristles, the center of gravity of the segment is radially outward from. the lip allowing the seg ment to hook into the lip and swing naturally into place and remain there. Installation is completed merely by lockingthe segment in place with the locking latch.

Means is provided to rotationally couple each segment to its holder. These means preferably include having the lip of the holder and the supported flange of the segment in a shallow V-shape so that the carrier and segment are in interference in the direction of power application from the street sweeper through the carrier to the segments. The shallow V also reduces the need for close tolerances between the segment and the holder. The V-shape admits to power transmission in either direction and is a convenient means of indexing. Instead of V-shaped edges, however, the edges may be a different shape, for example, arcuate, so long as interference between them exists. The rotational coupling means may also include a lug on the segment which,-in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, is received in a notch at the apex of the V in the holders lip for engagement by the lip.

The lock means on the holder is preferably a spring lock which tightens with load. The preferred lock means includes a latch which has at least one leg that springs into a locking position against the radially inward portion of the segment.

As previously mentioned, in place, the outer and inner radial edges of a segment are substantially engaged by the holder in such a manner that the holder can take substantially the entire load of sweeping and the segment can be made lightweight, inexpensive and disposable. The latch maintains this engagement betweenlholder and segment by loading the segment.

The holder'preferably has at least one segment bearing pad in its roof to engage the top of a segment. The

pad defines a space outside of it into which the segment can flex in response to sweeping and holder loads.

One of the important features of the segment of the present invention is that it accommodates dimensional tolerances of the holder and aids in locking itself in place by elastically flexing in the holder to load it and the holder.

A cooperating portion of the holder with aid from the latch engages the radially inward side of the segment and wedges the segment in place. Preferably the seg ment for the bristle bundles is made of an inexpensive plastic, such as a high density polyethylene, which has a sufficiently high modulus of elasticity to be elastically strained and hold the segment firmly in place in the holder. The plastic should also be sufficiently tough to withstand the abuse of service.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, appended claims and drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking down on a gutter broom constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a holder and segment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken in the plane 33 of FIG. 2 showing a segment in the holder before a latch of the holder locks the segment in place;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the latch locking the segment in place, slight deformation of the segment caused thereby and legs of the latch sprung into their locked position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except in the plane 55 of FIG. 2 showing an auxiliary pin lock; and

FIG. 6.is a top plan view ofa bristle-carrying segment in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With brief reference to FIG. 1, a gutter brush constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is generally illustrated. The brush depends from a drive shaft 12 which is attached to carrier plate 14 through a flange 16 and fasteners 18. The drive shaft, of course, is coupled to a rotary prime mover within the street sweeper. The drive shaft also loads the broom against a surface being swept and accommodates for broom bristle wear. The carrier plate in turn mounts a plurality of circumferentially disposed segment holders, one of which is shown in general at 20. The holders are secured permanently to the carrier plate as by welding. The bristles of the broom are carried in a plurality of bristle-carrying segments which are removed periodically and discarded for bristle renewal. One of the replaceable segments is shown at 22. There is one holder for each segment.

As will be subsequently developed, the holder and segments are designed so that sweeping loads are taken primarily by the holders so that the segments can be inexpensively made for discarding with worn-out bristles. The holders and the carrier plate are permanent. The number of segments and holders may vary from broom to broom. For example, there may be nine segments or eleven segments, depending on the diameter of the carrier plate. To facilitate the adaptation of the holders and segments to different size carrier plates, the holders and segments are made fairly small.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the holder of the present invention has a generally flat upper platelike roof 24. Bounding the roof on its outer radial end for substantially the entire width thereof is a leading,

radially outwardly disposed lip 26. The lip curls back onto itself to define a hook-like flange 28 which faces radially inward. The flange turns back outwardly again for strength. A medial notch 30 is provided intermediate the ends of the lip of the holder for receiving a pilot lug 32 of segment 22. The leading edge of the holder in plan is generally in the shape of a very broad mouth V (shallow V).

A positively sloped wall 36 depends from the inner radialend of roof 24 to meet a horizontal connecting section 38. The slope of wall 36, say 8 degrees from the vertical, is to get a jam fit with the segment. A second wall 40 extends vertically upward from the inner end of the horizontal section. Walls 36 and 40 and horizontal section 38 define a U shaped channel for mounting a segment securing latch 42.

Latch 42 is received for horizontal movement in a pair of slots 44 and 46 in sloping wall 36 and vertical wall 40. Slot 46 is relatively narrow. The latch is made with three legs which snap open and lock when closed. Unstressed, a pair of outside legs 47 and 48 bow slightly concave upwardly and a middle leg 49 bows concave downwardly. When the latch is moved from its open to its closed position, from the FIG. 3 to the FIG. 4 position, the legs are freed from the constraint of slot 46 and returned to their prestre ssed condition. In this position, a relatively large force must be applied to the latch to get it open because the legs have to be elastically deformed. The opposite set of the outside legs relative to the middle leg keeps the latch generally horizontal and forces the snap action.

It will be noted that in the closed position of the latch the legs present sharp rises to slot 46, say 45 degrees. As the latch is forced open the slope of the rise tends to oppose opening. When the latch is past the steep rise, the slope reverses and becomes less pronounced to aid slightly in opening. I-Iowever, interference exists between the legs and the slot for substantially the entire length of the less pronounced slope so that an external force is always required to get the latch into the fully open position illustrated in FIG. 3. When closing the latch the slopes have the opposite effect. The gentler slope opposes closing and the more severe slope aids in closing. In the closed position the more severe slope tends to oppose opening and keep the latch closed. Also in the closed position some interference exists between the legs of the latch and the wall bounding slot 46 to keep the latch tightly in place and avoid wear. A leading edge 50 of the latch is beveled upward to provide a wedge action on a head 51 of segment 22. The latch is heat reated.

The latch has strikes at 52 and 54 for striking wall 40 to limit movement of the latch radially inward toward the center of rotation of the gutter brush and prevent edge 50 from dropping out of aperture 44. Travel in the opposite direction is limited by segment 22. However a cotter pin 55 may be provided to prevent the latch from pulling out of the holder.

As is best seen in FIG. 5, an auxiliary pin 57 may be provided to indicate that the latch is in its fully locked position securing segment 22 in place. If the latch were out of position, the pin would not register with the three holes 59 provided for it in the carrier plate, in the latch, and in horizontal section 38 of the holder because the holes would not be aligned.

The roof of the holder is indented at 56 and 58 to provide hearing pads for segment 22, as will be described subsequently. Bearing between the segment and the roof can also be effected by pads on the segment.

The latch has a hole in it, indicated at 60, for receiving a bar for the opening and closing of the holder. Such a bar is shown at 61 in FIG. 4. Carrier plate 14 is apertured as at 62 to receive the bar. The bar gets purchase from the carrier plate and works against the wall of hole 60 to force the latch radially inward or outward of the center of rotation of the gutter brush for the disengagement and engagement of segment 22, respectively.

In plan, the holders are wedge-shaped so that they can be placed together side by side to form a ring for a full 360 degrees of bristles in the brush. Again the holders and segments are made small enough so that different diameter carrier plates can be accommodated and still have 360 degrees of bristle. The lateral sides of the segment extend slightly laterally outside the confines of the holder.

With reference to FIGS. 3 through 6, segment 22 is illustrated.

The segment is made of a plastic material such as high density polyethylene. It is integral and one piece. As will become more apparent, the segment in the holder is elastically deformed for firm seating. The elasticity of the segment and the space provided between it and the roof of the holder by indentations 56 and 58 assures good seating of the segment in the holder even with broad tolerances between the two.

In general, the segment comprises a body portion 70 in which a plurality of wells 72, 74 and 76 are provided. Each of the wells in turn opens to pairs of downwardly and radially outwardly extending passages through which brush bristles extend. Two of two pairs of the passages are shown at 80 and 82 in FIGS. 3 through 6 and are typical of all the passages. Each of the wells has four pairs of passages. The leading edges of the passages are chamfered, as at 84, for ease of installing bristles. Two circular arcs of passages are provided so that there are two radially disposed, circular rows of bristles in a complete gutter broom made up of a plurality of the segments 22.

The leading upper edge of body 70 is generally shaped in a broad mouth V to conform to the shape of the holder and to cooperate with lip 26 of the holder for the securing of the segment therein. The mating V- shaped surfaces of the holder and the segment rotation- -ally couple the two together and locate the two with respect to each other. Other shapes than the V-shapes described here may be employed, for example arcuate, but the V-shapes allow considerable tolerances between the holder and the segment and is very economical to produce.

The leading edge is defined by a pair of radially extending exterior flanges 86. A pair of pockets 87, bounded on their tops by flanges 86, receive flange 28 of lip 26 of the holder. The circumferential ends of the pockets are closed by radial end walls 89 of the seg ment. These end walls extend radially slightly beyond flange 86 for protecting the lips of the holder from curbs and the like and to add to the rotational coupling between the two. In place, the circumferential ends of lip 26 of the holder are inside the end walls of the segment and are capable of bearing on such end walls.

Pilot lug 32 is between pockets 87 and defines the interior ends thereof. The lug is for engaging the walls of notch or recess 30 in lip 26 of the holder. As previously mentioned, the pilot lug indexes the segment with respect to the holder and provides an additional rotational coupling between the holder and the segment.

Rotational coupling along the leading edges of the holder and the segment can be provided by either the interference between the V-shaped flanges of the segment and the V-shaped lip of the holder, the pilot lug in the medial notch of the holder, the end walls of the segment bearing on the end walls of the leading lips of the holder, or a combination thereof. When a segment is driven by a holder, one side of the V interface or the other will be in engagement unless the pilot lug or end wall prevents it, in which case: the pilot lug or end wall firmly engages the holder. The segment and holder are also rotationally coupled along the band of the jam fit between bead 51 of the segment and sloping wall 36 of the holder because the interface there is in interference during brooming.

A pair of inwardly extending, generally T-shaped bearing bosses 88 and 90 provide bearing engagement with the bearing pads of holder 20 defined by indentations 56 and 58 in the roof of the holder.

A guard or bumper 92 extends radially outward from the balance of the body of the segment to protect the permanently installed parts of the gutter broom, namely the holder and the carrier plate, from encountering curbs or the like.

Each pair of bristle-receiving passages receives the legs of a bundle of U-shaped steel bristles, such as steel bristles 93 in FIG. 3. The bights of the U-shaped bristles are supported by radial webs between the passages, such as a web 94 between passage 82 and a complementary passage 96. The walls ofthe segment bounding and defining the bristle passages are relatively thin to yield slightly under the loads of brooming and reduce fatigue failure of the bristles.

Bead 51 of the segment extends the width of the segment and has a sloping rear face to complement the slope of wall 36 of the holder to get a jam fit between the two.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 through 5, segment 22 and holder 20 have clearance between them around indentation 58. This room allows the segment to flex elastically to take up tolerances and be firmly seated in the holder. As is shown expressly in FIG. 4, bead 51 is deformed upwardly at 101 by leading edge 50 of the latch. The elastic deformation and the sloping surface of wall 36 forces the segment into engagement with the holder throughout the width of the latch and the width of the leading surfaces of the segment.

The inner radial end (as installed in a bristle broom) of segment 22 is defined by bead 51 which extends at right angles to the radius of curvature of the two rows of bristle-receiving passages. Bead 51, when segment 22 is installed in holder 20, extends the length of and is wedged in contact with sloping wall 36. Bead 51 is connected to the rest of the segment through a web 102 which, on its outer edge, bounds the inner walls of wells 72, 74 and 76.

The holder and segment are constructed so that the holder takes substantially all the sweeping loads. That is, the relationship between the segment and the holder is such that there is substantially no free and unsupported length of segment, the holder backing the segment along substantially its entire inner and outer radi- :al edges. Circumferentially there may be spaces between adjoining segments for tolerance purposes. Accordingly, each holder and segment can be viewed as being self-contained structurally from the others.

When it is desired to install a new segment with its new bristles, bar 61 is put through the appropriate one of apertures 62 in carrier plate 14 to engage aperture or hole 60 in the latch and force the latch to its unlocked position wherein the latches locking legs are de formed to pass through narrow slot 46 to the unlocked aosition shown in FIG. 3. The segment can then readily 3e removed by rotating it clockwise in FIG. 3. A new JflStl segment with new bristles is then installed. This .s done by inserting pockets 87 of the segment into flanges 28 of lip 26. The center of gravity of the new segment and bristles is such that the segment will swing 1p completely into position for the engagement of the ;egment by leading edge 50 of latch 42, in contrast to :he worn-out segment and bristles where the center of gravity location does not tend as much to seat the segnents in the holder. In inserting a new segment and )ristle package, pilot lug 32 of the segment must regis- :er with medial notch 30 of the holder. It is preferable 10 remove all segments before renewing any segments. It should be noted that the use of the latch and bar 61 vith the carrier plate as a fulcrum produces a considerable mechanical advantage for latch movement either the locked position or to the unlocked position.

The present invention has been described with referance to a certain preferred embodiment. The spirit and ;cope of the appended claims should not, however, iecessarily be limited to this description.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved gutter brush for street sweepers com- )rising:

a. a carrier plate adapted to be driven in rotation by a source of rotary power in the street sweeper;

b. a plurality of segment holder disposed circumferentially underneath the carrier plate and being secured thereto;

c. each holder having means to carry a bristle segment and bristles which includes an outer, inwardly turned lip and a latch selectively actuatable between an open and a closed position;

d. a segment for carrying bristles of the gutter broom for each of the holders, each segment having means engaged with the lip of the holder and means engaged by the latch of the holder in the closed position to firmly secure the segment in its associated holder; and means for rotationally coupling each segment with its holder by interference between the two for the transmission of rotary power from the holder to the segment.

2. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 therein the lip engagement means of each segment inludes a pocket for receiving the lip.

3. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 2 /herein each latch is radially displaceable between a irst and a second position, and each segment has a raially inwardly disposed portion in interference with the associated latch in the latters first position, the radially inwardly disposed portion being the means engaged by the latch, the latch in its second position freeing the segment for the latters renewal. 4. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 3 wherein each latch of each holder has means for engagement by a latching bar and the carrier plate has means for giving purchase to the latching bar and access of the latching bar to the engagement means, actuation of the latching bar on the engagement means with purchase on the carrier plate being operable to displace the latch between its first and second positions.

5. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each segment is made of an elastic material;

each segment is elastically deformed by its associated holder upon movement of the associated latch to its closed position to firmly secure the segment in place; and

means defining space for elastic deformation of each segment is provided.

6. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 5 wherein the space defining means includes at least one bearing pad in each holder depending downwardly from a roof portion thereof into bearing engagement with the associated segment the bearing pad preventing the segment from engaging substantially the entire roof portion.

7. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each holder has a slot receiving the associated latch;

each latch is generally flat and plate-like with at least two legs bowed in opposite directions from the plane of the latch and returning to the plane of the latch; and

the legs being elastically deflectable by the walls of the slot to permit movement of the latch between its two positions.

8. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 7 wherein the bow of the legs is such that in the closed position the legs resist latch opening.

9. An improved gutter brush for a street sweeper comprising:

a. a carrier plate adapted to be rotationally driven by a source of rotary power in the street sweeper;

b. segment holder means secured to the carrier plate and depending downwardly therefrom;

c. said segment holder means including means to 50 carry a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristle-carrying segments, such means including:

i. an inwardly turned lip extending along the outer radial leading edge of the holder means; and ii. a plurality of selectively actuatable latches mounted for movement between a first radially outward position and a second radially inward position;

d. a plurality of segments for carrying bristles of the gutter broom arranged in a circumferential array,

means for securing each segment to said holder means comprising for each segment a radially outward leading edge having a pocket receiving the lip of said holder means and an inner radially extending portion engaged by one of said latches in the latchs radially outward position;

e. means for rotationally coupling each segment with said holder means by interference between the two for transmission of the rotational power from the holder means to the segment; and

f. means defining a space between vertically spaced portions of the holder means and each of the segments to permit elastic deformation of the segments. 10. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for rotationally coupling each segment with said holder means includes the lip of the holder means and the leading edge of the segment being formed in the shape of mating broad-mouthed vs.

11. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 10 including for said holder means and each segment a medial notch in the lip and a pilot lug intermediately disposed in the segments leading edge registered in the notch to augment the rotational coupling of the holder means and segment and to act as a guide during seg ment renewal.

12. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 10 wherein the holder means has a laterally extending positively sloped wall for engaging each segment along its inner radially extending portion, each latch being operable to force the inner radially extending portion of its associated segment into a jam fit with the laterally sloping wall.

13. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein:

the holder means is comprised of a plurality of circumferentially arranged holders each of which has a slot receiving a latch;

each latch is generally flat and plate-like with at least two legs bowed in opposite directions from the plane of the latch and returning to the plane of the latch; and

the legs being elastically deflectable by the walls of the slot to permit movement of the latch between its two positions.

14. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 13 wherein the bow of the legs is such that in the closed position the legs resist latch opening.

15. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein the elastic deformation means includes said holder means having at least one bearing pad for bearing engagement against an upper surface of each segment. the bearing pad providing clearance between the segment and the holder means to allow elastic deformation of the segment to accommodate tolerances and secure the segment tightly in the holder means.

16. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 15 wherein said holder means is comprised of a plurality of circumferentially arranged holders and including a hole in the carrier plate for each holder and a hole in -the latch ofeach holder for receiving a bar, with the bar capable of bearing on the hole in the carrier plate and against the wall of the hole in the latch for moving the latch radially inward and outward to open and close the latch, respectively.

17. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 16 wherein the interior radial end of each holder is a U- shaped channel with apair of apertures in the vertical walls thereof, and the latch is received in the apertures.

18. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 17 wherein each latch is limited in its movement in its associated holder by at least one strike disposed to engage a vertical wall of the U-shaped channel.

19. An improved segment for a gutter broom comprising a body having:

a. a plurality of pairs of bristle-receiving passages extending through the segment from top to bottom, each pair having a dividing wall for supporting a bight of U-shaped bristles disposed in the passages, the passages lying generally along a circular arc;

b. a broad-based V-shaped leading edge with the apex of the V pointing radially outward from the curvature of the passages, the leading edge being for receipt in an inwardly curled lip of a segment holder;

c. a bead on the inner radial end of the segment for engagement by a latch of the holder to cooperate with the leading edge in securing the segment in the holder.

20. The improved segment. claimed in claim 19 including a bumper extending radially past the leading edge to protect a carrier plate of the gutter broom and the holder.

21. The improved segment claimed in claim 20 wherein the leading edge has at least one pocket for receiving the lip of the segment holder, the side walls of the segment extending radially past the pockets to protect the lip of the holder.

22. The improved segment claimed in claim 19 including at least one bearing pad for bearing against the holder to provide for flexure of the segment in the holder.

23. The improved segment claimed in claim 19 wherein each pair of receiving passages is separated by a flexible wall.

24. A segment for a gutter broom, said segment comprising a body having a plurality of bristle-receiving passages extending therethrough, said passages lying generally along an arcuate path throughout the length of the body, a plurality of bristles secured within each of said passages, said bristles extending out of said body at an inclined angle with a transverse plane through said body, said body having an outer side spaced laterally of said arcuate path in said plane in one direction and an inner side spaced laterally of said arcuate path in said plane in the opposite direction, said outer side of the body having an outwardly facing groove for receiving a lip of a holder adapted to support said segment, said inner side of the body including a camming surface extending at an inclined angle in a downward and outward direction, said camming surface being adapted to be engaged by a latching member moved toward said outer side of the body to force said segment into tight engagement with said holder.

25. A segment according to claim 24 wherein said inner side of said body is defined by a flange extending from the main portion of the body, said camming surface being provided at the lower outer edge of said flange, said flange having a certain degree of flexibility whereby it is capable of being; flexed upwardly through a small distance under the force of said latching member.

26. A segment according to claim 25 wherein the upper outer edge of said flange is defined by an angularly inclined jamming surface which is inclined in the opposite direction from that of said camming surface, said jamming surface being provided for snug engagement against a matching sloping wall of an overlying holder.

27. An improved gutter brush for a street sweeper :omprising a carrier plate adapted to be rotationally driven by a source of rotary power in said street ;weeper; holder means secured to the carrier plate so as to depend downwardly therefrom, said holder means extending circumferentially about the periphery of the :arrier plate and including an inwardly turned lip ex- :ending along the radially outer side thereof, the radially inner side of said holder means including a wall ;loped in a downward and radially inward direction; a )lurality of brush segments circumferentially arranged ibout said carrier plate and retained by said holder neans, each brush segment including a body member raving a plurality of angularly inclined passageways .herethrough and a plurality of bristles secured within :ach of said passageways so as to extend downwardly 1nd radially outwardly from said body member, said )ody member being provided with a groove at its raditlly outer side for receiving said lip of said holder neans, said body member having a jamming surface at ts radially inner side with a slope matching the slope )f said wall of said holder means; a plurality of latches nounted adjacent the inner side of said holder means vith one latch being mounted adjacent the inner side if each brush segment, each of said latches being nounted so as to be movable into engagement with the radially inner side of the body member of its associated brush segment to force said jamming surface thereof into tight fitting engagement with said wall of said holder means with the groove of said segment being in locking engagement with said lip of the holder means; and means for maintaining said latches in their positions of engagement with said brush segments during use of said gutter brush on said street sweeper.

28. An improved gutter brush according to claim 27 wherein said body member of each segment is provided with a downwardly and radially outwardly sloping camming surface at the radially inner side thereof, said latches being mounted so as to engage said camming surfaces to force said brush segments into tight fitting engagement with said holder means.

29. An improved gutter brush according to claim 28 wherein one of said holder means or said body members of the brush segments includes means for defining spaces therebetween when said brush segments are in tight fitting engagement with said holder means, each of said spaces permitting elastic deformation of the associated brush segment upwardly under the urging of the associated latch in its position of tight engagement with said brush segment.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Q PATENT NO. 3,875,607

DATED April 8, 1975 INVENTORG) RICHARD B.- ROSSEAU It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent arid that said Letters Patent 9 are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 6, "heating" should be -bearing-.

Column 7, .line 44, "holder" should .b -holders 5 Signed and Sealed this fourth Day of May 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner UfPahiHlS and Trademarks 

1. An improved gutter brush for street sweepers comprising: a. a carrier plate adapted to be driven in rotation by a source of rotary power in the street sweeper; b. a plurality of segment holder disposed circumferentially underneath the carrier plate and being secured thereto; c. each holder having means to carry a bristle segment and bristles which includes an outer, inwardly turned lip and a latch selectively actuatable between an open and a closed position; d. a segment for carrying bristles of the gutter broom for each of the holders, each segment having means engaged with the lip of the holder and means engaged by the latch of the holder in the closed position to firmly secure the segment in its associated holder; and e. means for rotationally coupling each segment with its holder by interference between the two for the transmission of rotary power from the holder to the segment.
 2. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 wherein the lip engagement means of each segment includes a pocket for receiving the lip.
 3. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 2 wherein each latch is radially displaceable between a first and a second position, and each segment has a radially inwardly disposed portion in interference with the associated latch in the latter''s first position, the radially inwardly disposed portion being the means engaged by the latch, the latch in its second position freeing the segment for the latter''s renewal.
 4. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 3 wherein each latch of each holder has means for engagement by a latching bar and the carrier plate has means for giving purchase to the latching bar and access of the latching bar to the engagement means, actuation of the latching bar on the engagement means with purchase on the carrier plate being operable to displace the latch between its first and second positions.
 5. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 wherein: each segment is made of an elastic material; each segment is elastically deformed by its associated holder upon movement of the associated latch to its closed position to firmly secure the segment in place; and means defining space for elastic deformation of each segment is provided.
 6. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 5 wherein the space defining means includes at least one bearing pad in each holder depending downwardly from a roof portion thereof into bearing engagement with the associated segment, the bearing pad preventing the segment from engaging substantially the entire roof portion.
 7. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 1 wherein: each holder has a slot receiving the associated latch; each latch is generally flat and plate-like with at least two legs bowed in opposite directions from the plane of the latch and returning to the plane of the latch; and the legs being elastically deflectable by the walls of the slot to permit movement of the latch between its two positions.
 8. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 7 wherein the bow of the legs is such that in the closed position the legs resist latch opening.
 9. An improved gutter brush for a street sweeper comprising: a. a carrier plate adapted to be rotationally driven by a source of rotary power in the street sweeper; b. segment holder means secured to the carrier plate and depending downwardly therefrom; c. said segment holder means including means to carry a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristle-carrying segments, such means including: i. an inwardly turned lip extending along the outer radial leading edge of the holder means; and ii. a plurality of selectively actuatable latches mounted for movement between a first radially outward position and a second radially inward position; d. a plurality of segments for carrying bristles of the gutter broom arranged in a circumferential array, means for securing each segment to said holder means comprising for each segment a radially outward leading edge having a pocket receiving the lip of said holder means and an inner radially extending portion engaged by one of said latches in the latch''s radially outward position; e. means for rotationally coupling each segment with said holder means by interference between the two for transmission of the rotational power from the holder means to the segment; and f. means defining a space between vertically spaced portions of the holder means and each of the segments to permit elastic deformation of the segments.
 10. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for rotationally coupling each segment with said holder means includes the lip of the holder means and the leading edge of the segment being formed in the shape of mating broad-mouthed V''s.
 11. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 10 including for said holder means and each segment a medial notch in the lip and a pilot lug intermediately disposed in the segment''s leading edge registered in the notch to augment the rotational coupling of the holder means and segment and to act as a guide during segment renewal.
 12. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 10 wherein the holder means has a laterally extending positively sloped wall for engaging each segment along its inner radially extending portion, each latch being operable to force the inner radially extending portion of its associated segment into a jam fit with the laterally sloping wall.
 13. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein: the holder means is comprised of a plurality of circumferentially arranged holders each of which has a slot receiving a latch; each latch is generally flat and plate-like with at least two legs bowed in opposite directions from the plane of the latch and returning to the plane of the latch; and the legs being elastically deflectable by the walls of the slot to permit movement of the latch between its two positions.
 14. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 13 wherein the bow of the legs is such that in the closed position the legs resist latch opening.
 15. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 9 wherein the elastic deformation means includes said holder means having at least one bearing pad for bearing engagement against an upper surface of each segment, the bearing pad providing clearance between the segment and the holder means to allow elastic deformation of the segment to accommodate tolerances and secure the segment tightly in the holder means.
 16. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 15 wherein said holder means is comprised of a plurality of circumferentially arranged holders and including a hole in the carrier plate for each holder and a hole in the latch of each holder for receiving a bar, with the bar capable of bearing on the hole in the carrier plate and against the wall of the hole in the latch for moving the latch radially inward and outward to open and close the latch, respectively.
 17. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 16 wherein the interior radial end of each holder is a U-shaped channel with a pair of apertures in the vertical walls thereof, and the latch is received in the apertures.
 18. The improved gutter brush claimed in claim 17 wherein each latch is limited in its movement in its associated holder by at least one strike disposed to engage a vertical wall of the U-shaped channel.
 19. An improved segment for a gutter broom comprising a body having: a. a plurality of pairs of bristle-receiving passages extending through the segment from top to bottom, each pair having a dividing wall for supporting a bight of U-shaped bristles disposed in the passages, the passages lying generally along a circular arc; b. a broad-based V-shaped leading edge with the apex of the V pointing radially outward from the curvature of the passages, the leading edge being for receipt in an inwardly curled lip of a segment holder; c. a bead on the inner radial end of the segment for engagement by a latch of the holder to cooperate with the leading edge in securing the segment in the holder.
 20. The improved segment claimed in claim 19 including a bumper extending radially past the leading edge to protect a carrier plate of the gutter broom and the holder.
 21. The improved segment claimed in claim 20 wherein the leading edge has at least one pocket for receiving the lip of the segment holder, the side walls of the segment extending radially past the pockets to protect the lip of the holder.
 22. The improved segment claimed in claim 19 including at least one bearing pad for bearing against the holder to provide for flexure of the segment in the holder.
 23. The improved segment claimed in claim 19 wherein each pair of receiving passages is separated by a flexible wall.
 24. A segment for a gutter broom, said segment comprising a body having a plurality of bristle-receiving passages extending therethrough, said passages lying generally along an arcuate path throughout the length of the body, a plurality of bristles secured within each of said passages, said bristles extending out of said body at an inclined angle with a transverse plane through said body, said body having an outer side spaced laterally of said arcuate path in said plane in one direction and an inner side spaced laterally of said arcuate path in said plane in the opposite direction, said outer side of the body having an outwardly facing groove for receiving a lip of a holder adapted to support said segment, said inner side of the body including a camming surface extending at an inclined angle in a downward and outward direction, said camming surface being adapted to be engaged by a latching member moved toward said outer side of the body to force said segment into tight engagement with said holder.
 25. A segment according to claim 24 wherein said inner side of said body is defined by a flange extending from the main portion of the body, said camming surface being provided at the lower outer edge of said flange, said flange having a certain degree of flexibility whereby it is capable of being flexed upwardly through a small distance under the force of said latching member.
 26. A segment according to claim 25 wherein the upper outer edge of said flange is defined by an angularly inclined jamming surface which is inclined in the opposite direction from that of said camming surface, said jamming surface being provided for snug engagement against a matching sloping wall of an overlying holder.
 27. An improved gutter brush for a street sweeper comprising a carrier plate adapted to be rotationally driven by a source of rotary power in said street sweeper; holder means secured to the carrier plate so as to depend downwardly therefrom, said holder means extending circumferentially about the periphery of the carrier plate and including an inwardly turned lip extending along the radially outer side thereof, the radially inner side of said holder means including a wall sloped in a downward and radially inward direction; a plurality of brush segments circumferentially arranged about said carrier plate and retained by said holder means, each brush segment including a body member having a plurality of angularly inclined passageways therethrough and a plurality of bristles secured within each of said passageways so as to extend downwardly and radially outwardly from said body member, said body member being provided with a groove at its radially outer side for receiving said lip of said holder means, said body member having a jamming surface at its radially inner side with a slope matching the slope of said wall of said holder means; a plurality of latches mounted adjacent the inner side of said holder means with one latch being mounted adjacent the inner side of each brush segment, each of said latches being mounted so as to be movable into engagement with the radially inner side of the body member of its associated brush segment to force said jamming surface thereof into tight fitting engagement with said wall of said holder means with the groove of said segment being in locking engagement with said lip of the holder means; and means for maintaining said latches in their positions of engagement with said brush segments during use of said gutter brush on said street sweeper.
 28. An improved gutter brush according to claim 27 wherein said body member of each segment is provided with a downwardly and radially outwardly sloping camming surface at the radially inner side thereof, said latches being mounted so as to engage said camming surfaces to force said brush segments into tight fitting engagement with said holder means.
 29. An improved gutter brush according to claim 28 wherein one of said holder means or said body members of the brush segments includes means for defining spaces therebetween when said brush segments are in tight fitting engagement with said holder means, each of said spaces permitting elastic deformation of the associated brush segment upwardly under the urging of the associated latch in its position of tight engagement with said brush segment. 